Every so often, some BudBlog entry or another strikes a nerve and inspires a return essay. Such was the case with one of my offerings in this bit of cyperspace earlier this week -- the one regarding the archaic campus rite of hazing.

A reader, Andrew J. Foote, took issue . . . to a degree. What follows is his response.

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I played Division III college baseball for five years, one as a redshirt, and was a tri-captain my last two seasons. I understand in some ways your lack of understanding on hazing, or whatever you want to call it, because of the many gray areas it touches.

But I do disagree with your point that having freshmen/rookies carry equipment does not build team unity. I feel that it is an important way of ensuring that new players are not bigger than the team no matter how many accolades they had before they joined the team.

We always had freshmen/rookies assigned to equipment to ensure the balls, bats, helmets and other gear was on the field for every practice or game. If the freshmen/rookie in charge of equipment was not going to be available to do this job it was his responsibility to make sure that there was another player (rookie or veteran) who could.

Every member of the team at some point or another was subject to this equipment assignment, but usually only as freshmen or rookies. Not only was it an effective way of making sure we didn't show up to practice or games without essential equipment, but it provided responsibilities to young players who in many cases had never been faced with assuming any responsibilities.

The most effective teams are ones in which players understand that the strength of the team is not in the individuals but the sum of all parts. So we continually stressed that carrying equipment was a "rite of passage" for freshmen/rookies; however, it was not something that upperclassmen/veterans should take for granted or "haze" others about.

As someone who has carried equipment and been the subject of other so-called "hazing" rituals, I can say that without a doubt that these things made my allegiance to the team stronger and allowed me to gain the respect of my peers, which was why I had no problem instituting similar policies when I was a tri-captain.

Therefore, before you express your opinions to others, it might be prudent to consider that this particular form of "hazing" -- i.e., carrying equipment -- is no different then the progression from the entry-level position to the senior-staff position . . . as there are certain jobs that people in entry-level positions will be forced to do (often because the senior staff does not enjoy these jobs). In the end, both are needed for the betterment of the "team."